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US RE49,868 E1Granted
Medallion fan
AssigneeHunter Fan Company
InventorJeffrey Butler Cunnane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a ceiling mounted air circulating apparatus comprising, in combination: a motor; an essentially centrally located radial or axial air impeller; air guiding means; optional airflow enhancement by means of air amplification means; optional centrally located wiring path from an electrical power source to a wiring enclosure suitable for hanging a lighting fixture or chandelier; and decorative embellishments, ail of which are arranged to blend with the architectural style of a space in a manner similar to a decorative ceiling medallion, the plariform of which, when viewed from below may be circular, rectangular, or polygonal. Optionally, the apparatus of the present invention may embody any of the following; heating, cooling, filtration means, positive ion generation means, and / or air sterilization means.
Claims27
A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
- a ceiling plate with a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling;
- an impeller with a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling, the impeller configured to draw air in through an air inlet;
- a plenum chamber configured to receive air from the impeller, the plenum chamber comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;
- wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section;
- a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, the flow guide defining an airflow channel, the airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;
- wherein said air impeller pressurizes air within the plenum chamber, from which air is subsequently discharged to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to said cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel.
5 more elements
A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
- a ceiling plate with a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling and defining a ceiling plate outer periphery;
- an impeller with a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling and fluidly coupled to an air inlet;
- and
- a plenum chamber, fluidly coupled to the impeller, and comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;
- wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section;
- and
- a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, and the flow guide defining an airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;
- wherein air discharged by the impeller to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to the cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel.
7 more elements
A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
- a ceiling plate, motor, and impeller shroud in a vertically stacked arrangement defining an annular space encircling the motor and vertically bounded by the ceiling plate and the impeller shroud, and the ceiling plate having a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling;
- an inlet provided in the impeller shroud and fluidly coupled to the annular space;
- a peripheral outlet between an outer periphery of the ceiling plate and an outer periphery of the impeller shroud, and fluidly coupled to an annular space;
- an impeller located within the annular space and rotatably driven by the motor to draw air in through the inlet, pass the air through the annular space, and expel the air through the peripheral outlet;
- and the impeller having a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling;
- a plenum chamber, fluidly coupled to the outlet, and comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;
- wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section;
- a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, and the flow guide defining an airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;
- wherein air discharged by the impeller through the outlet to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to the cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;
- wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel;
- wherein the movement of the repositionable section between the first and second positions defines a vertical range of motion that lies within a vertical extent of the vertically stacked arrangement.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.